Last year here in Virginia "woolly worms" were all the talk -- well, in terms of natural winter weather predictors, that is! Apparently the size or shape or number of stripes on the creatures was some kind of symbolic harbinger of weather to come. I'm not sure if it's true or not. Some say the number of acorns the trees drop also tells us what's coming after Fall.... and it got me thinking about squirrels and chipmunks, of course!

I have noticed in some past autumns that the squirrels were really getting fat and fluffing up their winter attire. This year, however, I have been noticing the opposite. This isn't scientific, of course, but we do have a LOT of squirrels running around. They are all looking very thin and svelte in their fine-haired coats. And though in the past couple of years I've noticed the chipmunks going, well, 'nuts', running to-and-fro across the yard collecting food; this year they are more chill. As opposed to running back and forth to their underground dens non-stop for hours on end as they have in the past, this year I only see them occasionally. There seems to be no rush, hurry or panic.

I find this interesting. (Yes! I really, actually do find this interesting) It's my own, personal backyard study of the lives of chipmunks and squirrels! And it got me thinking these behaviors could be signs of what is to come.

Anyone else notice these things?

(ps At the time of the earthquake and hurricane, the squirrels went crazy, runnig in patterns I don't usually see)

I have noticed in some past autumns that the squirrels were really getting fat and fluffing up their winter attire. This year, however, I have been noticing the opposite. This isn't scientific, of course, but we do have a LOT of squirrels running around. They are all looking very thin and svelte in their fine-haired coats. And though in the past couple of years I've noticed the chipmunks going, well, 'nuts', running to-and-fro across the yard collecting food; this year they are more chill. As opposed to running back and forth to their underground dens non-stop for hours on end as they have in the past, this year I only see them occasionally. There seems to be no rush, hurry or panic.

I find this interesting. (Yes! I really, actually do find this interesting) It's my own, personal backyard study of the lives of chipmunks and squirrels! And it got me thinking these behaviors could be signs of what is to come.

UPDATE on my observations -- as I looked out the window today at the squirrels scurrying about in their thin coats it reminded me of the post I wrote last Fall.

So it seems that my observations were correct (if there is a correlation, that is!) --- the squirrels' coats remained thin all year, the chipmunks never went into a frenzy to collect nuts and the winter was indeed extremely and wonderfully mild and warm!

I think here in Virginia we had the warmest March on record. The trees leafed out about 2-3 weeks earlier than usual. And the winter was heavenly.

kspring1 when gets closer to end of september/early october maybe around when did first ever post like october 21st you should post what you see.since im always interested in squirrel/wooly catapillar stuff

I do certainly notice that there are and are going to be many many more acorns this year than last year here in my town in Central/interior CT. Last year there were literally almost none around-it was amazing how little there were last year. The year before there were Tons!!

Hi jdrenken! We don't have persimmons in Virginia. But your post got me thinking about Italy! I used to live in beautiful Italia and I remember seeing the strange-looking, plump fruit hanging on bare black branches in November! (I was in Florence.) It looked so strange. It was a nice sight, though despite the awkard appearance. I was happy to see these funny orange balls. They brought a brightly colored splash of life during the dreariest time of the year!

In Italy the fruits are called "cachi" (sounds like: kah-key) Which is a very funny sounding name for a very funny looking bare-branch-hanging-fruit!

Hi jdrenken! We don't have persimmons in Virginia. But your post got me thinking about Italy! I used to live in beautiful Italia and I remember seeing the strange-looking, plump fruit hanging on bare black branches in November! (I was in Florence.) It looked so strange. It was a nice sight, though despite the awkard appearance. I was happy to see these funny orange balls. They brought a brightly colored splash of life during the dreariest time of the year!

In Italy the fruits are called "cachi" (sounds like: kah-key) Which is a very funny sounding name for a very funny looking bare-branch-hanging-fruit!

So, what is it about the seeds?....(and what in the world is a 'Missouri Mauler'?!)

Cut open a persimmon seed. (Find persimmon fruit in your supermarket. It should be locally-grown to reflect your weather.)

Look at the shape of the kernel inside.

If the kernel is spoon-shaped, lots of heavy, wet snow will fall. Spoon = shovel! If it is fork-shaped, you can expect powdery, light snow and a mild winter. If the kernel is knife-shaped, expect to be "cut" by icy, cutting winds.

As for the nickname Missouri Mauler...it was given to me by a certain meteorologist when I called his radio show and questioned his Summer forecast on air along with the whole "drought overblown" comments.

A persimmon seed is another old school prediction theory.As for the nickname Missouri Mauler...it was given to me by a certain meteorologist when I called his radio show and questioned his Summer forecast on air along with the whole "drought overblown" comments.

Dog Shedding in clumpsLeaves dropped early this yearand now Im seeing squirrels look overweight and scrambling somewhat(not like 2010 but more than 2011)

In fact, I never seen this done to my tree, they are tearing it apart because it has berries on it. It was never this torn apart before. LOL And there always seems to be 1 or 2 in there I wonder if its the same one.

I got my three check marked. Lets see if that plays out now for a cold stormy winter. Last 2 years has played out with 2011 being opposite of whats happening with dog, leaves, squirrels.

Dog Shedding in clumpsLeaves dropped early this yearand now Im seeing squirrels look overweight and scrambling somewhat(not like 2010 but more than 2011)

In fact, I never seen this done to my tree, they are tearing it apart because it has berries on it. It was never this torn apart before. LOL And there always seems to be 1 or 2 in there I wonder if its the same one.

I got my three check marked. Lets see if that plays out now for a cold stormy winter. Last 2 years has played out with 2011 being opposite of whats happening with dog, leaves, squirrels.

Looks like the 3 checkmarks worked again. Top 10 coldest Novembers, Arctic blast in January. and winter temps into March and beginning April with trees not even blooming yet. Not to mention a ton of snow around here. I'll have to take those 3 factors more sersiously now. Hmmmm

For the past several years there has been a pair of Sandhill Cranes that frequent a nearby pond ( this year they brought a third), I saw them into December 2012. I'm not really familiar with migratory bird patterns, but they definitely seemed to hang around longer than usually this past fall/winter.